Forever Dead (On Hold)

Chapter Seventeen

“Shit” I muttered under my breath. I stood still for a brief moment but it was a moment too long for I had been spotted by the people in front. I swallowed hard, making my throat burn. They walked up to me and examined me, I didn’t recognise him but I felt I knew something about the two cowering in the back. On was larger than the woman beside him but still he was large. His black curly hair was so familiar and I just couldn’t place it. I decided to look at the woman beside him; she was more distinctive than the mysterious man at her side. He light brown hair cascaded past her shoulders and at no point did it decrease into a wave, it was dead straight. Her skin was relatively pale but not the unhealthy white as Eloise’s skin.

“Look here Joe, we have a stray” He spat at his friend. I wanted to gag at the sell in his breath but thought better of it. I turned my head in search for everyone else but it seemed I was either ahead of them or they ran, leaving me alone with an almost dead Kat in my arms. “Who may you be” He brought a finger to Kat’s pale cheek and ran it round to meet the side of her head and hair. The thin strands began to twine around his dirty, dried skin hoping to put both of us in distress. I wouldn’t give in for her sake. I stayed quiet, avoiding his question. “Looks like we have a quiet on here” The hair dropped from his fingers as he backed off and let his less courageous friends.

I tried to look at the floor but was met with the sight of Kat’s wilting body; I closed my eyes so not to let the tears flee from my eyes. I hated it; I hate what everyone has become. I take a breath in and exhale, it was shaky slow but I hoped they wouldn’t notice it too much. The woman put her hand on my shoulder before examining Kat’s body. She gasped slightly before burying her head in her companion’s chest.  She mumbled something into his clothes and surprisingly he heard it. “It’s okay, Rachel” he said in a deep tone. He seemed to be concerned. “May I ask who you are, but mainly who she is?” I lifted my head to look at the friendlier couple, I nodded before speaking.

“I’m Alan and she’s Kathryn” I spoke quietly; I saw him shake his head in disbelief. Wait! Why would he care, I probably don’t know him and he probably doesn’t know either of us.

“Is there any way to help her” Rachel asked, whimpering with each word she spoke. I shrugged my shoulders since even I didn’t know how to help. “Oh” was all she said before turning around and walking off.

“ALAN!” Dylan Screamed from behind me, I sighed. I was both glad and annoyed that he was here; Lamim or Kyle would have been nicer. I looked round to see him, along with the others, running up to me. Once he finally reached me he was bent over, gasping for the air her lost whilst running. “I am so glad we found you, is Kat okay?” He questioned, breathing in after each syllable. I didn’t answer; it was a stupid question to ask if someone who could die was ok. He straightened his back and caught a glimpse of the other person. “Oh hey Joe” was all he said. I glared at him; this information would have been useful. Everything finally fit, and I remembered who they were. In school we were mere acquaintances.

“Oh, Dylan” he spoke in a displeased tone, trying to seem happy. Inside he wasn’t as joyful. “I thought you would have been dead already” The last part was whispered but both Rachel and I heard it. She hit him before running over to Dylan and wrapping him in a friendly hug. He blushed at her touch but hugged her back before it became awkward.

“It’s good to see you guys” She smiled; it was enough to bring a little light into my heart. “I want to know what happened so I can help her” I wanted to laugh, since he got no ‘Hello how are you’ or ‘It’s great to see you are alive, how did you survive?’

“She has severe burns all over her body, cuts and bruises, a deep gash across her chest and ash, smoke and embers in her lungs” I uttered before Dylan could. Rachel was not pleased; she was shocked since I told her what was wrong and not what happened. “We were in the supermarket, a fire lit up the entire building. I got trapped inside and so did Robin” I took a break to give it dramatic affect. “She didn’t make it but I was able to escape due to Kat’s help. She somehow got trapped inside; I reached her before anym-“ I was cut off by a loud cough, a choking cough. The noise originated from the girl I held in my arms, she twitched and move around in my arms before finally opening her eyes. Dylan let out a relieved sigh and I would have if I wasn’t in sight and earshot.

“Hey guys” She whispered weakly, coughing up more black dust. I broke down and pulled her into a hug, she pushed at me before finally relaxing into it and hugging me back. “Thanks” was all she said to me, and only me. For once in the last week I had smiled.